intent to do

USAGE SUMMARY

"intent to do" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when talking about someone's intention to do something. For example: "He had every intent to finish the task but was interrupted before he could do so."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

There's no intent to do any sort of sexual assault".

The New York Times

And there is no intent to do so".

The New York Times

"They came intent to do a 2006 lynching".

The New York Times

But there have been other recent threats in which the intent to do harm was clear.

The New York Times

"I give myself one month to achieve what I am intent to do".

The New York Times

Certainly, there was no intent to do so," Eytan Lehman said.

The Guardian

To open an embassy in Havana, the US State Department has to inform Congress of its intent to do so.

Independent

We have to show that there was specific intent to do the crime with the requisite state of mind".

The New York Times

"That to me is compelling evidence against any intent to do anything but preserve the airplane and fly it".

The New York Times

Powers of redress "In many ways, Gordon signalled [in a major constitutional statement] a serious government intent to do this.

The Guardian

But as Sept. 11 vividly illustrates, aliens also come to our country with the intent to do great evil".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing legal matters, use "intent to do" to clearly establish the mental state behind an action, as it carries significant weight in determining culpability or responsibility.

Common error

Avoid using "intent to do" when describing unintentional results. "Intent" implies a deliberate purpose. Use phrases like "led to" or "resulted in" instead when describing unintended consequences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "intent to do" primarily functions as a noun phrase acting as a determiner, indicating a purpose or intention towards a specific action. This is evident across various examples in Ludwig, aligning with the AI's assessment of correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

31%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Wiki

9%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "intent to do" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression, as confirmed by Ludwig. It functions as a determiner that highlights a specific goal or action and is commonly found across diverse writing styles. The usage of this phrase tends to be more neutral, particularly in professional, legal, and media contexts. Ludwig’s analysis, considering its wide application in authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian, reinforces its validity and versatility in written communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

intention to perform

Replaces "do" with "perform", adding a slightly more formal tone.

aim to accomplish

Substitutes "intent" with "aim" and "do" with "accomplish", suggesting a goal-oriented approach.

purpose of undertaking

Uses "purpose" instead of "intent" and "undertaking" for "do", giving a more formal and deliberate sense.

objective to execute

Replaces "intent" with "objective" and "do" with "execute", implying a planned action.

design to carry out

Uses "design" in place of "intent" and "carry out" instead of "do", indicating a pre-determined plan.

plan on implementing

Emphasizes the planning aspect by using "plan on" and replaces "do" with "implementing".

have in mind to achieve

Rephrases the intention as something "had in mind", and replaces "do" with "achieve".

seek to fulfill

Uses "seek" instead of "intent", highlighting the active pursuit, and "fulfill" instead of "do".

desire to complete

Substitutes "intent" with "desire" and "do" with "complete", focusing on the wish and the finalization of the action.

aspire to realize

Replaces "intent" with "aspire", suggesting a higher ambition, and "do" with "realize", focusing on making it real.

FAQs

How can I use "intent to do" in a sentence?

You can use "intent to do" to express a planned or purposed action, such as, "The company announced its "intent to expand" into new markets next year".

What's the difference between "intent to do" and "planning to do"?

"Intent to do" emphasizes a firm resolve or purpose, while "planning to do" focuses more on the preparatory steps. "Intent" suggests a determined mindset, whereas "planning" is about the logistics.

What can I say instead of "intent to do"?

You can use alternatives like "aim to accomplish", "purpose of undertaking", or "objective to execute" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "with intent to do" or "with the intent to do"?

Both are grammatically correct, but "with the intent to do" is generally preferred in formal writing. The addition of "the" provides a slightly more specific and deliberate tone.